Change of plan? Winter Wind. But we have still been busy!

Winter Wind Sailing from CarZgate in North Cyprus

As the winter comes to an end, we’re excited to embark on our first major trip from CarZgate Marina in North Cyprus over to Fin, Turkey. The marina has been incredibly clean and well-maintained during our stay, a testament to the dedication of its staff.

With the winter behind us, it’s time to set sail once again and explore new horizons. While CarZgate has its fair share of challenges, we’ve enjoyed our time here nonetheless. Now, we’re heading off to Tunisia for this winter season, with a strong feeling that we might return in the near future.

Throughout the winter months, we have been keeping ourselves busy with boat maintenance and other tasks, helping out fellow sailors as well. One such case was our assistance to David and his sailboat Eternity. Their encounter with an unfortunate t-bagger bag resulted in damage to their Sail Drive, requiring extensive repairs. With a reliable Volvo agent handling the task and the support of insurance company Pantheon, the job was done to perfection. We kept David updated via short videos and photos, ensuring that everything was being handled properly.

In addition to helping with boat repair jobs, we also found ourselves taking care of various tasks around our own boat such as cleaning, re-commissioning air/water maker, and tightening sump bolts – an ideal time for such work when no engine or Sail Drive is involved. Not stopping there, we have even lent a hand in clearing plastic water bottles off the beaches and promoting awareness about proper waste disposal practices.

Stay tuned as we prepare to set sail from CarZgate to Fin, taking advantage of the easterly weather system for a smooth journey. We can’t wait to check back into Turkey and explore its waters further. Our current plan is to stay in Turkey for three months – until Easter. Here’s wishing us fair winds and calm seas!

Maintaining the Boat in Winter

In preparation for our journey, we’ve taken the time to inspect our engine thoroughly while it was out. The opportunity allowed us to clean up any dirt accumulation inside the engine bay, tighten sump bolts that had become loose over time and check other components of our boat’s mechanics. This period provides an excellent window for performing routine maintenance without causing disruption in everyday use.

We have discovered an amazing cleaning product that has helped maintain our decks, sails, and sunlines, which can become quite dusty during winter months when the wind blows from the south or southeast. Although we’ve had issues with corrupted GoPro footage capturing this, we will definitely repurchase it if available before our departure.

The Winter Challenges at CarZgate Marina

The winter season has certainly brought its fair share of challenges at the marina. One particularly windy night, with constant 30 knots of wind blowing and even reaching up to 47 knots, boats were moved back and forth within their slip spaces for protection. Despite this inconvenience, it’s crucial to remember that facilities like CarZgate provide an excellent level of protection for boats during these rough months.

Beaches surrounding the marina have experienced waves crashing over walls, bringing along with them debris including plastic bottles and other waste. It is unfortunate how much plastic litter mars our beaches but we’ve managed to clean up a significant amount ourselves. The topic leads us into discussing beach cleaning vs stopping at the source where humans are held accountable for polluting the environment.

We argue that it’s ineffective to just clean up what has already been thrown away – instead, we need to put more emphasis on making sure these plastics don’t end up in our oceans by holding manufacturers responsible. We believe that if drinks were sold in returnable glass bottles like they used to be, young children would actively take part in collecting them off beaches and returning them for the deposit refund.

In conclusion, let’s work together towards finding sustainable solutions rather than simply dealing with the consequences after they have occurred. Only then can we truly appreciate the beauty that exists just beyond our beaches!

A Final Note

As we wrap up this segment, remember to like and subscribe if you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen. Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below – especially if you agree that it’s time for action when it comes to addressing environmental issues.

In our next episode, tune in as we continue exploring various boat maintenance tasks, prepare for departure, and share valuable tips on navigating through different marinas across Turkey. Join us on this exciting journey filled with new adventures and lessons learned along the way!